Key-locking electric switch



M. J. LEWIS KEY LOCKING ELECTRIC SWITCH July 17, 192s. 1,677,719

Filed Jan. 26, 1927 A gwoewfoz A10/gall J Leu/iw Patented July 17, 1928.

1,677,719 PATENT loipllicrl.N

1 UNITED srarles- AssIeQNon To E. F. DUQUETTE, or HARTVILLE,

OHIO.

lVQRG-AN J. LEWIS, OF MASSILLON, HO,

KEY-LOCKING- ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed January 26, 1927. Serial No, 163,670.

switch Vconveniently located outside the rage door, vso that the driver of an aut-oniobile may direct his automobile toward the garage, and may operate the control switch preferably without getting out-vof the automobile. i

For such an exteriorly located control switch, it is desirable to have a lzey locking device which will prevent `anyone but the possessor o the hey from operating the switch to control the door opening and closingmechanism. u

Accordingl f the objects et thepresent iinproveinents are to provide simple and economical key locking electric switch adapted for use in exterior locations, and also to provide a construction and arrangement therefor which may include, in part, a standard push button electric switch, and a standard key loch.

These objects are4 attained by a construction and arrangement which maybe stated in general terms as .includinga base housing in which a standard push button electric,

switch is mounted, and a cover housing,

adapted to provide a gasket sealed closure for the base housing and in which cover housinga standard key loclr is mounted, the boltoi the key lock being adapted forselective engagement with reciprocating switch operating plunger which is mounted in the cover housing and has an external end adapted to be pushed when the lrey lock is un-vv locked for abutting the lower endv of the plunger against the outer end 01"' the encased push button whereby the button may be perated for closing an electrical circuit such as a circuit necessary to operate the afore* said garage opening and closing device.

A. preferred embodiment of the inventionv l is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing,

forming part hereof, inv which'z--VY y Figure 1 is a front elevation view of the improved key locking electric switch; Fig. 2, a vertical axial sectional view thereof as on line 2-2, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3, a fragmentary sectional Vview thereof as on line 3 3, Fig. 2.l

Smilar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The improved hey locking ,electric switch indicated generally lat 1 preferablyvincludes a basehousing 2 which may be and preferably is a standard base l-iousing andlmount` ed in its interior, a standard push button electric switch indicated generally at Band including a 'spring pressed push button 4 normally maintaining an open circuit in an yelectrical circuit of which the wires' and16 connected to the switch terminals 5 and 6 maybe the lead wires, and which wires may extend intoV the base housing 2 asthro'ugh the conduit 7 screwed into a suitable'aperture 8 formed in a' 'usual way in'one end of the base housing,

YWhen. the push button 4 is inwardly pressed, against the outward pressure of its spring,` the electric switch 3' is operated inv a usual manner to close the circuit of which the ends of the wires 5 and 6 may be the terminals.

@he standard base *housing 2 is usually provided with a flat cover plate, which hasv an aperture through which t-he push button 'l 4 extends.` For the present purposes, howy ever the standard Aflat cover plate is removed, and an improved cover housing 9 forms a closure over the open end 10 of they base housing 2, and maybe secured thereto as'by means of screws 11 passing through suitable apertures in an outwardly extendingtlange 12 of the cover housing and intoV suitable threaded apertures in an inwardly extending flange 1301i the base housing, and

lthere being preferably provided between the adJa-c flanges 12 and 13, a gasket 14 wheiM- v an eltective water tightr joint clo-l sure is formed between the base housing and the cover housing. I

The cover housing preferably includes side walls 15 extending outwardly `from the flange 12 and merging with a front wail 16 which may be parallel with, but outwardly spacedl a substantial. distance away from the front edges of the opening 10 off the base housing. y l

'The front' wallv 16 of the cover housing is provided with a suitable bearing aperture 17 in rwhich a'reciprocating plunger 18 is slidably mounted, and extends outwardly from the front wall 16 terminating prefer- `ably in the enlarged outer push head 19,

and the inner end 2O oi' the plunger extends into the interior o1 the cover housing lor abutment against the outer end of the push button 4, whereby the plunger 18 may bel pushed to inwardly press the push button 4iand operate the switch 8.

The plunger 18 is provided with an annular groove 21 intermediate its outer and inner ends, and adapted to selectively receive the outer notched end 22 of the bolt 28 oi' a key operated lock 24 of a usual design. The lock 24 is mounted in the interior of the cover housing and has a key barrel 25 extending outwardly through a 'suitable aperture in the front wall 1G of the cover housing, whereby the key lock may be exteriorly operated by a suitable key 2G for extending and retracting its bolt.

The normal position of the push button l is as illustrated in Fic. 2, and in order to operate the switch 3 ior closing the circuit in which it is connected, the outer end of the push button must be pushed inwardly until it is substantially flush with the outer face 27 of the switch 3.

rlhe groove 21` is normally opposite the notched bolt end 22, and when the bolt is extended in normal locked position, the` plunger 18 is prevented from being pushed inwardly beyond the clearance limits of the groove, which limits are less than the distance it is necessary to push the plunger 18 in order to have its end 2O push the push button il the distance necessary to operate the switch.

lVhen the bolt 23 is retracted by operation of the key 26, the plunger 18 is :tree

to be pushed inwardly the distance neces?l sary to permit operation of the switch.

The lock 24 is preferably of the type including a spring normally pressing' the bolt 23 outwardly for normal engagement with the groove 21 excepting' when the bolt is retracted against the pressure of the spring, by the key 26.

Accordingly the improved key locking switch may the like, an automobile `may be driven opposite the switch., and the driver of the automobile may use his key to retract the bolt 23, whereby he may push the plunger 18 inwardly and thereby push the push button 4l inwardly to operate the switch.

The device is not only adapted for such uses, but may also be used for outside light switches and the like, where a continuous pressure may be desired upon the push button l..

For this purpose an annular groove 30 the plunger.

be located in any desired en terror position adgacent a garage door ork tending exterior-ly thereof and its innerendextending in the housing for abutmentV against the Vouter .endY of the push button, means urging the push button toward the plunger, a key lock in the housing having a bolt for selective stop engagement with the plunger, the lock being adapted for operation by an eXteriorly inserted key for eX-. tending' and retracting the lock bolt' into and out oit stop engagement with the plunger.

2. A key locking electric switch including a base housing, a push button operated electric switch mounted in the base housing, a cover housing for the base housing, V'a reciprocating plunger mounted inthe cover housing and having its outer end ext-ending exterior-ly thereof and its inner end extending in the housing `for abutment against the outer end or the push button, means urgingthe push button toward the plunger, an annular groove intermediate the ends of the plunger, a key lock in thehousing having a bolt for selective stop engagement with the annular groove of the plunger, the lock being adapted for operation by an exteriorly inserted key for extending and retracting the lock bolt into and out of the'groove of 3. A key locking electric switchr including a base housing, a push button operated electric switch mounted in the base hous` a reciprocating plunger mounted in the cover housing and having its outer end eX- tending exteriorly thereof and its inner-end extending in the housing tor abutment against the Vouter end of the push button, means urging the push button toward the plunger, an annular groove intern'iediate the ends of the plunger, a key lock in the housing having a notched bolt for selective stop engagement with the annular groove of the plunger, the lock being adapted for operation by an exteriorly inserted key for eX- tending and retracting thelo'ck notched bolt Y linto and out of the groove oit the plunger. ln testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

MORGAN J. LEVIS.

lng, a cover housing for the base housing,

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